Review of You Only Live Twice (2007) by Zack B — 31 Aug 2010

After sauntering about Jamaica, Istanbul, the Bahamas, and Kentucky, it makes sense that OO7 should finally drift over to the Far East; Lewis Gilbert's You Only Live Twice manages to convey the exoticism of the Land of the Rising Sun without unnecessary clichés (unlike many later Bond films like The Man with the Golden Gun).

Akiko Wakabayashi and Mie Hama are both radiant as Aki and Kissy Suzuki, Karin Dor provides some Scandinavian iciness as Helga Brandt, and Tetsuro Tamba and Teru Shimada (particularly good as the corrupt Mr.

Osato) provide excellent supporting performances. However, Donald Pleasence steals the show with his scarred, glowering Ernst Stavro Blofeld, OO7's greatest adversary; his confrontation with Bond in his volcanic abode is priceless.